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Men's basketball: CU Buffs Roberson, Dinwiddie named All-Pac-12, first team

Roberson also conference's defensive player of the year

By Ryan Thorburn, Buffzone.com

Posted:
03/11/2013 02:21:04 PM MDT

Updated:
03/12/2013 06:38:22 PM MDT

Colorado's Josh Scott (40) and Andre Roberson, put the hammer down on Stallon Saldivar of Northern Arizona on Dec.21, 2012, in Boulder. Roberson was named the Pac-12 defender of the year on Monday as well as being on the conference's first team. Scott landed on the all-freshmen team.
(CLIFF GRASSMICK)

The Pac-12 coaches confirmed what Tad Boyle has believed for a long time now: Andre Roberson is the conference's best defensive player.

Colorado's dynamic 6-7 junior forward earned defensive player of the year award on Monday after leading the nation in rebounding and also leading the Pac-12 in steals during the regular season.

"It means a lot," said Roberson, who was also on the All-Pac-12 defensive team last season but edged out by Cal's Jorge Gutierrez for the individual honor. "Not just to me but to coach (Boyle) as well and my teammates. We feel like we kind of got screwed out of it last year, but it's a good thing to get it this year.

"It just shows how our program is improving. Defense and rebounding definitely helps this team.

Colorado sophomore Spencer Dinwiddie was named to the Pac-12 first team on Monday. (Cliff Grassmick / Daily Camera)

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This is the third consecutive season Roberson has led the Buffs in rebounding (11.5 rpg), steals (2.3 spg) and blocked shots (1.4 bpg).

Boyle left the Coors Events Center on Monday afternoon with his "fingers crossed," still holding out hope that Roberson -- who has missedthe last two games with a viral illness -- will be able to play for CU at the Pac-12 Tournament this week.

Roberson underwent some medical tests on Monday and will make the trip to Las Vegas with the team.

"We'll wait and see what the doctors say," Boyle said. "We'll wait and make a decision, obviously day to day."

The fifth-seeded Buffs will play No. 12 Oregon State in the opening round on Wednesday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (3:30 p.m.

"Be more aggressive, attack the rim, and play defense," Roberson said when asked about what adjustments his team should make for the rematch. "That's one thing I did see from the bench that we didn't take advantage of.

"I feel like the guys will be ready."

Roberson and teammate Spencer Dinwiddie were both selected to the 10-man All-Pac-12, first team. CU's Josh Scott was named to the conference's five-man all-freshmen team.

"I don't think you make that unless your team has had some success as well," Dinwiddie said. "They made it easy for me to make plays, having people like Ski (Askia Booker) and Dre (Roberson) and Josh (Scott) frees up lanes for me to get to the basket and stuff like that. So it's pretty much a testament to the team."

Dinwiddie led the Buffs in scoring and was seventh in the Pac-12 averaging 15.4 points per game. The 6-6 sophomore point guard also led the team in assists (3.0 apg) and free throw percentage (.822).

Roberson and Dinwiddie are the first CU tandem named to the conference first team since 1968-69 when Cliff Meely and Gordon Tope were All-Big 8, first team.

Ken Charlton and Jim Davis (1962-63), and Charlton and Wilky Gilmore (1961-62) are the other Buffs' duos named all-conference first team the same year.

Scott, the most highly touted member of CU's top-25 recruiting class, is averaging 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds. The 6-10 forward is the program's second All-Pac-12 freshman as Dinwiddie was so honored a year ago.

"It has been fun," Scott said of his first college season. "There are things I can keep improving on and I'm going to enjoy my career here."

Roberson is the first CU player to ever win a conference defensive player of the year award and the first player in the program to average a double-double in back-to-back seasons since Shaun Vandiver (1989-91).

"I was elated. It couldn't go to a more deserving guy," said Boyle, who has described Roberson as the nation's best defender. "He led the country in rebounds and led our conference in steals and was top 10 in blocked shots. He can guard every position on the floor."

A vote of the 12 coaches also selected Oregon's Dana Altman as coach of the year, Cal's Allen Crabbe as player of the year and Arizona State's Jahii Carson and UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad as co-freshman of the year.

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